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UN report highlights disparities in global metals stocks

May 19, 2010 - 12:38 GMT Location: London

KEYWORDS: United Nations Environment Programme , UNEP , Metals in Society

Enormous disparities in global metals stocks exist between developed and developing nations, including Brazil, China and India, according to a new report, Metals in Society, by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

The report focuses on the amount of metals present in society and the potential for utilising in-use stock to offset demand from virgin metal. The largest global per capita of population stock of in-use metals is iron at 2.200kg, followed by aluminium at 80kg, copper at 35-55kg and lead at 8kg. The report estimates that there is 7,000-14,000kg per capita of iron in developed countries, such as the USA, Australia and European Union member states, and just 2,000kg per capita of iron in developing countries. This pattern is repeated for other metals: in the developed world, there is 80-185kg of stainless steel per capita, but only...

All material subject to strictly enforced copyright laws. © Euromoney Institutional Investor PLC.

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